Monday Morning Musings:
Bangs and Whispers
The attempt was not furtive,
not noiseless, it was abusive, shameless
a deafening crash—
we’re crashing. . .crashed
over the precipice,
past nervous titters,
and anxious alarms
into the volcano,
we wait for a line,
a beaming up and out.
There—a bird
an owl, her cry resonates—look–
each cloud indents the sky,
like a paragraph on a page,
now watch the blue
more words float into view:
less mothering from a tiny red rose
there is life and death and magic in the woods
for if in rain, pale petals fall
and time cries with tapping beats
against the glass, stop, listen,
hear the drumming, hear the violin sighs
of life aches–
the raw is still there
but pink-petaled spring
whispers under a sweetened lemon sun,
failure, collapse, frightening–
and boundless—once upon a time,
the stars sang a secret. . .
I wish.
This is a poem created from the Random Words I generated yesterday and some of the Oracle’s words from Saturday. I’m getting this up early so I can do some work before the next round of January 6 Committee Hearings begin this morning at 10:00 AM Eastern Time.
We listened to the first televised hearing on Thursday night on the radio as we were driving home from a beautiful night with dear friends at William Heritage Winery, and then watched it on TV after we got home. It was horrifying and stunning to watch. It’s beyond doubt that the former president instigated an attempted insurrection. Unfortunately, it’s gone beyond him now and growing.
Merri’s Movie, TV, Theater Club:
We finished the new season of the Danish political drama, Borgen, which was a lesson on how power corrupts. This season returned after nine years. It is an excellent series, which I highly recommend. We stated watching the new season of Stranger Things. It’s a lot of fun so far. Both shows are on Netflix. I didn’t watch either trailer because I don’t want to know anything in advance.
I get emails from Focus Features, and so I was able to see a free virtual screening of the new Downton Abbey movie, Downton Abbey: A New Era. It was a bit predictable, but it was Downton Abbey—well-acted, beautiful filmed—and if you like the show, you’ll enjoy the movie. I did.
On Saturday afternoon, we saw Into the Woods at the Arden Theatre in Philadelphia. We walked around in a light rain first. It was a very enjoyable production, the audience around three sides of a bare bones stage with an excellent orchestra raised behind them. It was a show of imagination and storytelling—no special costumes, just a few props like crowns, red cape, golden shoes, Rapunzel’s braid, etc. Several cast members played multiple roles, including playing Snowy White the Cow, the hen that laid golden eggs, and the Giants’ harp. The Baker’s vocals were the standout for me, but all the actors sang beautifully. We both enjoyed this production very much.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
The hearings are so frightening. Yet I think they will change no one’s mind in the end. As a country we have lost the ability to reason.
I totally missed the word list yesterday. I find that many posts are just not showing up in my reader, which is where I look at them. I’ll see if they inspire for something this week–last week they definitely helped. (K)
As I just said to Dale, it’s still important to have the facts on record, whatever happens.
I never go through the reader, so I don’t know what’s happening there. WP always seems to have gremlins.
Lisa was saying that she’s been finding comments in spam, so I just looked and 3 (old) comments from you were in there. There will, as you say, always be problems.
I found a bunch of comments in spam when I checked a week or so ago. And they were from regular commenters.
Always a pleasure to read and wonderful that you created this wonderful poem with both the word list and the Oracle. Another fun week was had, I can see. Lovely photos, too.
I cannot help wonder if anything will come out of these hearings… other than confirmation of what everyone knew. What will the repercussions be, if any?
Thank you so much, Dale.
I don’t know what will happen, but we have to work within the law. Today they really built a case against the former president. We now have the Big Lie and the Big Rip Off. I suppose it’s one thing to know and another to have the facts to back up what we know–the committee has the facts. The cult members won’t be watching, and they will refuse to believe anyway, but it’s important to have all this on record. Now hopefully the DOJ will be arresting more people.
I sure hope so!!
I do. too!!
🙂
Yes, we both chose ‘shame’ and made it shameless, yours directly influenced by the hearings. We had the volcano image too, the anger, the crashing and the blue.
I didn’t even realize we both took shame and made it shameless! 🙂
Yes, lot of the same images.
That is the real connection 🙂
I loved your poetry and your thoughts, Merril. This poem is stunning! It’s still so busy around here preparing for the renovations. It’s a busy month. I missed the hearings but will read what you shared on FB. ❤
So many of your photos would make gorgeous puzzles, Merril. Beautiful!
Today’s Monday Morning Musings brought home to me just what I surreal, bifurcated existence I seem to be living. The little plot of land outside my window is all lush green trees, soft breezes, and birdsong, which make me very happy. The world seen through the television and social media is all lies, violence, and contagion, which fills me with despair.
Just love this image: “each cloud indents the sky,
like a paragraph on a page,”
We watched the hearings, too. The footage of the riot made me sick. I knew it was bad, horrifyingly bad, but somehow I was unprepared for the video clips. What so disgusts me is how many people knew what was going on but did absolutely nothing either because they were afraid of tRump or they were afraid for their political careers, the hell with democracy. While the hearings won’t change the minds of people with closed minds, at least they are documenting what happened and why.
Thank you so much, Marie.
I was pleased that the random words led to that image.
I had the same reaction to the videos. I seldom watch the news–I listen to NPR and read news articles–so I was also unprepared to see such carnage. I agree with you about documenting what happened. I think that is also the idea sometimes when bills come up for a vote. Even though Democrats know it will fail, the votes are on record.
Beautiful words and images, as always. 🙂 We’ve been watching the hearings, too. It’s horrifying (which is what I thought as I watched it happen live — not sure why I happened to have the tv on that day). I keep hoping that the hearings will change some minds. I’m not sure it will.
Thanks so much, Robin.
It really is horrifying. They are certainly building a case against the former president. I’m sure it won’t change the minds of the gullible believers, but at least it’s all on record now. Judge Luttig’s words yesterday were chilling.
Yes, they were. I try not to think too hard about where we might be headed in hopes that by some miracle we will turn things around.
💙
Good musings, Merril!
So much to think about these days.
It’s great that you have so many gorgeous picks to put in the post. They soften certain messages.
Hmph, If I was doing this, it would be Monday Morning Mashings, and no pretty pics.
Best I stay away from non art opinions, but I am trying to do a creative post on Women’s Rights to their bodies.
It’s not easy, even though the feeling is strong.
Thanks so much, Resa.
My older child has created art on this theme in the past.
Interesting!